Calculating machine



Nov. 1, 1938.

R. A. CHRISTIAN CALCULATING MACHINE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed June 25, 1934 m l F h,

Inventor Raymond A. Christian His Attorney Nov. 1, 1938.

A. CHRISTIAN CALCULATING MACHINE n .m 2 m r t h 6 IC m n s Rd s n n t .10 e v. h a S R Original Filed June 25, 1934 His Attorney Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The National Cash Ohio,a corporation of Register Company, Dayton,

Maryland Original application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,252. Divided and this application July 24,

1936, Serial N0. 92,305

4 Claims. (Cl. 2352'l) This invention relates to improvements in accounting machines of the type illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,203,863, issued November '7, 19 16, to Halcolm Ellis, and United States Patent No. 1,819,084, is-

5 sued August 18, 193l,toEmil John Ens. This case is a division of .applicants application Serial No. 732,252 filed June 25, 1934 which issued as Patent No. 2,082,098.

As disclosed in the present invention, the Ellis type accounting machine is equipped with a traveling carriage and typewriter keyboard in addition to the regular adding machine keyboard. However, the typewriter attachment is a matter of choice and may be omitted where the business system does not demand it.

In order to better adapt the Ellis machine for use by large department stores, banks, public utility companies and the like, who issue periodical statements to a plurality of customers, certain novel improvements were provided, particularly in the traveling carriage and platen controlling mechanisms.

Therefore, it is broadly an object of this invention to incorporate in a machine of the type referred to-various improvements to increase its utility and flexibility so that it may be easily adapted for use in the majority of modern business concerns.

A further object is to supply adjustable stops for use in connection with the selective controlling means and the skip-t'abulating means.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to release the machine for operation by depressing certain control keys.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the traveling carriage in tabulated positions controls depression of certain control keys.

A further object of this invention is to provide 40 novel control mechanism associated with a balance totalizer conditioning means.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

0f said drawings:

Fig. 1 is across sectional view of the machine proper taken just to the -right of a row of amount keys.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine control 55 keys.

. controlling mechanisms,

. or patrons.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism for releasing the machine for operation by means of the balance key and the mechanism for controlling depression of the balance key by means of the traveling carriage.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of sociated mechanism.

In the figure showing the framework in phantom by dot and dash lines, where the dot and dash lines do not show behind the parts it indi- 1O cates that such parts are in front of the frames, but where the dot and dash lines are shown crossing the full line parts it indicates that such parts are behind the frames.

General description the balance key and as- An accounting machine, to be successfully used in present-day businesses, must not only be rugged and free from mechanical defects, but the success of such a machine depends largely 20 upon such vital factors as accuracy, speed, and ease of operation. In accomplishing these results, various improvements have been made in the traveling carriage, platen roll, and machine and it is to these improvements that the present invention is directed.

In its present embodiment, the machine of this invention is shown adapted for use by large department stores where charge accounts of a great number of individuals are carried from mouth to 3 month. However, it is not desired to limit the machine of this invention to the particular use cited above, as the previously mentioned improvements widen the scope and increase the flexibility of the machine to the extent that it may easily 35 be adapted for use in almost any business where it is necessary to frequently balance individual accounts and to make out statement slips or bills to be sent to a plurality of individual customers 40 The balance key of the present machine, in addition to conditioning the balance totalizer for clearing operations, also, by means of mechanism shown in Fig. 3, releases the machine for operation by depressing the regular starting bar. A 5 novel non-repeat mechanism prevents repetition of operation when the balance key is inadvertently retained depressed. In order to prevent the sbalance key from being depressed before the trav- 50 cling carriage has had time to tabulate to th Balance column, mechanism has been provided to lock the balance key against depression until column is alined with the printing the traveling carriage,

the Balance mechanism. A stop on cooperating with a hanging bar lever, then locks the balance key.

Detailed description The mechanism of the machine of invention is supported between a left side frame side frame 3| (Fig. 3).

The usual traveling carriage, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 3, carries a platen roll 40 (Fig. 1)

the present platen mechanism, see the co-pending application of Raymond A. Christian, Serial No. 653,838, filed January 27, 1933.

Machine keyboard and operating mechanism The machine of this invention has a plurality of denominational rows of amount keys 4!, one of such denominational rows being illustrated in The amount keys 4| are depressibly mounted by means of a top keyboard plate 42 having therein slots adapted to loosely support the upper end of said amount keys and by means of studs 43 secured in the lower ends of said Depression of one of the amount keys 4! moves the stud 43 carried thereby into the path of one of a series of graduated steps 46 on an amount rack 41 mounted for horizontal reciprocating leading frame bail 56 extending between a pair of arms 51 (only one shaft 53.

Located on the right hand side of the keyboard is the usual starting bar 64 having stems 65 and 66, which are pivoted respectively to a plate 61 pivoted on a stud 68 secured in the frame 3!, and an extension 69 of a lever 10 loose on a stud 1i also carried by the frame 3|. The plate 61 carries a stud 12 which cooperates with the being shown) secured on the United States No. 1,601,102 issued to F. W. Bernau on Septem- Depressing the starting bar 64 rocks the plate 61 clockwise against the tension of a spring 16. the stem 66 of (disclosed in the parent application) is operated, disclosed in the parent case, oscillates the shaft 53 first counter-clockwise and then clockwise to normal position.

By referring to Fig. 1, it is obvious that any movement of the shaft 53 is transmitted by means of the arms 51 to the bail 56 of the leading Initial movement counter-clockwise of which, by means of the stud 5i and the slot 50, causes the amount rack 41 to move rearwardly until one of the graduated steps 46 engages the stud 43 of the depressed amount key 4|. This prevents further rearward movement of the segment 52; consequently the bail 5B completes its rearward movement independently thereof, flexing the spring 54. In its return movement clockwise, the bail 56 picks up the segment 52 and returns said segment and the amount rack 41 to their normal, or zero, positions. In case no amount key is depressed, the zero stop lever retains the rack 41 in its zero position, as shown in Fig. 1, during machine operations.

the proper denominational wheel of the selected totalizer positions the rack 41 commensurate with the amount on said totalizer wheel in a manner presently to be described.

Totalizers In its present embodiment the machine of this invention is equipped with two totalizers, an upper add-subtract or No. I totalizer and 8. lower adding or No. 2 totalizer (Fig. 1) however,

present machine with additional totalizers. No. I and No. 2 totalizers have respectively a plurality of wheels and 8|, only one of each here shown, adapted teeth 82 and 83 usual manner.

amount keys 4!, as explained above, an alining bar 84 connected by a pair of arms 85 to a shaft 86 is rocked into engagement with teeth 81 of the segment 52 to of the depressed amount key.

In subtracting operations, the corresponding wheel of the No. l or balance totalizer is rocked rack 41 revolves the wheel 80 of the No. I or balance totalizer in a reverse or counter-clockwise direction until said rack 41 is stopped by the depressed amount key, as explained earlier herein. After the leading frame bail 56 and the rack 41 complete their initial. movement rearwardly, the wheel of the balance totalizer is disengaged from said rack 41. This results in the value of the depressed amount key being subtracted from the balance totalizer.

The wheels 80 (Fig. 1) of the No. l totalizer each carries a tripping plate 88 with diametri- I09 which actuates the printing segment 95 and cally opposed tripping teeth which cooperate with the arm 96 in a manner presently to be described.

add transfer pawls 89 and subtract transfer In adding, subtracting, and total taking operapawls 90 to transfer amounts from lower to hightions, initial movement rearwardly of the seger denominations and to position the racks l1 ment 52 (Fig. 1) and the amount rack 41 under 5 influence of the leading frame ball 56, by means in total taking operations in a manner presently tions, the add of the link 94, positions the-printing segment 95 to be described. In adding opera transfer pawls 89 are rocked into the path of commensurate with the position of the amount the teeth of the tripping plates 88, and th subrack 41. When the bail 56 reaches the terminus 10 tract pawls 90 are simultaneously rocked out of of its rearward movement, it dwells briefly in this 10 the path of the teeth of said tripping plates. In position, and, during this dwell, clockwise movesubtracting operations, the subtract transfer ment of the shaft 91 and the yoke I08-rocks the pawls 90 are moved into the path of th teeth f release trigger I00 counter-clockwise to release the tripping plate 88 and the add transfer pawls the arm96 and the printing segment 95 to the 89 are moved out of the path of said te th, action of the spring I09, which has been given 15 Referring to Fig. 1, which, as previously stated, added tension by clockwise movement of the bail shows the mechanism for one denominational e Sp u e the arm 96 and the unit, in adding operations, when eith of th segment 95 clockwise, causing said segment to t th of th tripping l te as wipes past th tripmake an impression upon material wound around 20 ping point of the adding transfer pawl 39, th the platen roll 40. Return movement counter- 20 ,ran5fer mechanism for the next higher denomiclockwise 0f the shaft 91 and the bail I08 IGSIJOIBS nation is tripped, thus causing one to be added in the arm 96 d theprihting me t 95 to the said next higher denomination. In subtract op- P t own in F erations, when one of the teeth of the tripping Whenever the segment 52 moves out of zero 2'5 plate 88 wipes past the subtract transfer pawl 90, position, the Stud 05, in cooperation with the th tr f me h i m for th xt hi h r d arcuate surface I04 of the zero elimination hook I02, rocks said hook a slight distance counternomination is tripped, thus causing one to be subt t from id higher d o i ti clockwise to disengage it from the projection IOI In total taking operations, the wheel 80 is enof the plate thereby allowing the printing t denomination to function.

30 gaged with the rack 41 prior to its initial move chanism for tha This counter-clockwise movement of the ,zero

ment rearwardly, which movement rotates said wheel 80 in a reverse or counter-clockwise direcelimination 110011 is imparted to e Zero t ti one 15 th t th of t t i i m t elimination hook of the next lower denomination 88 engages the inner surface of the tripping point when its segment 52 is retained in zero position. or the add transfer pawl 89. This arrests the This aiiOWS the Zeros 0f the lower Order enom 35 movement of the wheel 80 and positions the rack nations to print d p ev ts t zeros of the order denominations from printing.

4'! and the segment 52 commensurate with the higher t 52 is returned to zero posiainount'on said wheel 80. The wheel 80 is now When t Segmen tion, as shown in Fig. l, a spring II'I restores in zero position and if the operation is a clear- 40 ing or resetting operation, it is disengaged from the zero elimination hook I02 clockwise so that 40 the amount rack 51 before said rack starts its it engages the projection IOI of the plate 98. return movement forwardly. In reading or sub- Directing attention to Fig. 2, a row of control total operations, the wheel 80 remains in engagekeys H8 and a No. I add key II9 located on the ment with the rack 41 during its return movement left hand side of the keyboard control the funcr forwardly, consequently the amount is replaced tions of the totalizers. The functions of the 5 totalizers are also controlled by means of stops thereon.

Each of the W e S 3| 0f h 2 tetelizer I20 in cooperation with the usual hanging bar carries a transfer tripping plate 9| similar to the l vers, The stops I20 are adjustably supported plates 88 for the No. l totalizer wheels and having in pred ter ined columnar positions by a, st p dia et y pp teeth which cooperate With bar I2I secured to the front of the traveling car- 5 t e t pp Point Of the 2 add transfer pawls riage which is not shown herein, but is shown 92 in adding and total taking operations in exactin t parent ease ly the same manner as described for the No. I

totalizen I Travelmg carnage mechanism Printing mechanism As previously brought out, the machine of this 55 invention is provided with a traveling carriage The printing mechanism willnow be explained of a p wen known in the art and which is i ggz ig gf fif fgggg g g f similar to that used on typewriters. The travelg ggf 52 has an arm h g i gg ing carriage is adapted to be tabulated from col- 60 umn to column and means are also provided to nected by a link 94 to a type segment 95 pivoted on an arm 96 loose on a printer shaft 91 journaled zfi figigggri g 522 35 gltii ys in the right if' 3g g in the printer controlled mechanism is provided to automati f own). 1 e arm carries a late 9 8 w i t h g grojection 99 which cooperates with a Cally return w traveling carriage from any printer release trigger I00, rotatably supportedby tabuifated to an extreme right h the prinieri H1318}; The plate 98 lags another 1proi- 3 1: 18 P 332 1 Ga e pr deierm ned jection 0 w c coopera es wi a zero e im 0 m ar po 1 1 ns. e anism is also p nation hook I02 loose on a shaft I03 support d vided to simultaneously effectuate the automatic W by the printerframe. The hook I02 has a downpl n f i m h sma h m chine releasand the selective carriage reward extension with an arcuate surface I04 which ing mechanism, cooperates with a stud I05 carried by an extenturning mechanism simultaneously. Depression sion I06 of the segment 52. Tensioned between of the balance key is also controlled by columnar a pawl I01 carried by the arm 96 and the bail positions of the trave 'ng carriage, and, in addi- 7 of a yoke I08 secured on the shaft 91 is a spring tion, means are provided whereby depression of the balance key releases the machine for operation.

Balance key locking mechanism In the machine of the present invention, mechanism has been devised to enforce the printing of the balance in a certain column of the record spring 286 returns the associated parts to normal position as here shown, so that the projection 284 of the pitman 282 will re-engage the notch 285 in the balance key H8.

in the frame 38. This allows a spring 290 to rock said latch 288 clockwise, which, by means of a stud 29! in an extension 292 of said latch, in cooperation with an extension of an arm Near the end of a cycle of operation of the machine, lever IOis rocked the usual manner to restore the plate 61, and transmitted through arm 295, shaft 294, arm 293, and pin HI, and rocks the lever 288 counter-clockwise to move the extension 28! out of the notch.

It is generally the practice to allow the extenn 281 of the latch 288 to retaining the balance key depressed at the end of machine operation prevented the proper tunetioning of the regular non-repeat mechanism and ing on the edge of the key stem and to make the restoring of the latch 288 at the end of machine operations independent of the release of the balance key H8. This latter is, in effect, an auxiliary non-repeat mechanism for the machine.

Describing in detail the mechanism outlined above, the spring 290 (Figs: 3 and 4) normally maintains the extension 281 of the latch 288 against a. vertical surface 291 of a latch pawl 288 pivoted at 299 to the left frame 30 and urged H8, and, in so doing, rocks the plate 304 counter-clockwise to disengage the car 303 from case the balance key H8 is retained depressed It is therefore evident that the device just described prevents excessive drag on the stem of the balance key H8 and also serves as a non-repeat mechanism in case the balance key is inadvertently retained depressed.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill immediately upon restoration thereof to normal position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the.

combination of means to release the machine for operation; a latch cooperating with the releasing means; a manipulative member with a recess adapted to cooperate with the latch; yieldable means to move the latch into communication with the member and the recess; means to hold the latch away from the member to ease manipulation thereof; and an element on the member cooperating with the holding means to disengage the latter from the latch when the member is manipulated, thereby allowing the latch to enter the recess to operate the releasing means and to disengage the element from the holding means.

4. In a machine of the class described having a totalizer and means to print balances standing on the totalizer, the combination of a manipulative device operable to condition the machine for a balance printing operation; a latch cooperating with the manipulative device, when said device is operated, and operable to retain the device in operated position dur ng a balance'printing operation; means normally retaining the latch out of cooperation with the manipulative device; means, operable when the device is operated,'for removing the retaining means; a machine release means; and means, operable by the latch as it moves into cooperation with the device, to operate the release means to release the machine for a balance printing operation.

RAYMOND A. CHRISTIAN. 

